Board of Directors
Lindsey Huffman has been a member of the Untied Way of Lincoln County Board since 2018. She is a graduate of Lenoir Rhyne University where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance. Lindsey is currently the Chief Financial Officer for blueharbor bank in Mooresville, NC and has been working in the banking industry for over 20 years. Prior to her current position, she was Controller at Carolina Trust Bank in Lincolnton. Lindsey is married to Kenneth, and they have two daughters, Charlotte and Clara, and two golden doodles. Lindsey and her family are members of Pearl Baptist Church in Iron Station where she serves on the finance committee.
Having volunteered on several different United Way boards, Michelle came to United Way of Lincoln County in 2022 and has made an incredible impact in our mission. Born in Massachusetts and spent most of her life in New England, Michelle has lived in many different states before relocating to North Carolina as the Human Resources Manager for The Timken Company. Beyond her HR work, she is also a PhD student with a focus on industrial organizational psychology, completing research on the barriers to manufacturing employment for persons with physical disabilities, and she works as an adjunct professor at both Appalachian State University and Franklin Pierce University. Beyond that, she also is the chair for Timken’s disability-focused employee research group and Celebrating Abilities Network. Outside of work, Michelle is married and has one son and one husky, with whom she loves to spend time by SxS riding, taking care of her plants, and reading.
Kelley has lived in Lincolnton her entire life. She graduated from Western Carolina University in 2000 with a degree in Criminal Justice. Kelley has worked at DSS for twenty three years. The first two years at DSS she worked as an Employment Social Worker, then transitioned over to Children Services. Kelley has been Deputy Director at DSS since 2022. Kelley is married to Steven and they have two daughters, Laney and Addison.
As a United Way of Lincoln County board member since 2023, Pastor Aaron Swain makes an amazing addition to our organization! He grew up in Burgaw, a small farming community just outside of Wilmington, NC and went to Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, NC, where he is completing a doctoral program. For the last seventeen years, he has served as an associate pastor in North Carolina and Oklahoma and now serves as one of the pastors at Freedom Church in Lincolnton. He is the Director of the Residency Project of Lincoln/Gaston counties, which prepares, connects, and mobilizes young pastors in our community. Also, he is active in his denomination, serving on the Executive Committee, as well as the Articles & Bylaws Committee, and chairing the Convention Relations Committee for North Carolina Baptists. Beyond his work in the church, he has also gone on mission trips to locations like New York City, Guatemala, Belize, Uganda, Nigeria, and Canada. In his personal life, he has been married to his wife Sarah for almost seventeen years, and they have two girls: Emma and Molly. He is also an avid Tar Heel fan through thick and thin!
For over three decades, Ross managed or advised others on the protection of people who were at risk of targeted violence, and on the protection of iconic or symbolic facilities and events, including the Olympic Games and American embassies. Ross is widely recognized for his knowledge of methods to prevent, intervene, and respond to terror threats and active assailants, either acting alone or in a group. He holds lifetime, retired Certified Protection Professional (CPP) and Physical Security Professional (PSP) credentials, the gold standards among leaders in the security profession. Ross currently serves as Governor Roy Cooper’s appointee to the N.C. State Emergency Response Commission (“SERC”), which advises the Department of Public Safety and the Division of Emergency Management on the state’s emergency management and homeland security programs.
In 2002, Ross founded The Treadstone Group, Inc., which for twenty years, cleared, asserted, defended, or acquired intellectual property rights for clients that ranged from young entrepreneurs and tech moguls to the world’s largest corporations. In 2022, Ross sold the investigation division and now concentrates exclusively on acquiring trademarks, domains names, and social media handles for Treadstone’s clients.
Ross is passionate about supporting organizations that serve communities of youth, the elderly, and other populations that are traditionally underserved or underrepresented. The Treadstone Group has directly provided over $600,000 in monetary and in-kind donations to nonprofits, charities, houses of worship, schools, and other organizations. Most recently, The Treadstone Group donated the funds for the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office to purchase two narcotics dogs, “Major Treadstone” and “Gamora,” and train their handlers. Ross regularly hosts intimate fundraisers, including those that helped raise nearly $100,000 in donations for Scouting, the United Way of Lincoln County, and organizations that provided free art camps and 100 bicycles for children whose parents could not otherwise afford it. He created and hosts a major, annual fundraiser, “Cigars, Bourbon & Benefactors,” which has attracted as many as 375 guests per event and raised nearly $500,000 for the Lincoln County Coalition Against Child Abuse and Child Advocacy Center, known as the CAC. The CAC helps children heal from physical and sexual abuse and holds their offenders accountable.
Currently, Ross serves on the boards of directors of the CAC (immediate past chair), the Partnership for Children of Lincoln and Gaston Counties, and the United Way of Lincoln County. Formerly, he served on the Valle Crucis Conference Center board, Gaston College Foundation Board, East Lincoln Betterment Association, East Lincoln Rescue Park Management Committee, the United Way of Lincoln County Allocations Committee, and the National Night Out (Lincoln County) planning committee, and as chief of East Lincoln Rescue Squad. Ross is a Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow.
For his service to the community and philanthropy, the Child Advocacy Center named its child forensic interview room, “The Ross Room,” and presented him with its “Ola Mae Foster Award;” the Valle Crucis Conference Center named the road throughout the Conference Center as “Ross Bulla’vard;” the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, Carolina’s Chapter honored Ross with its 2021, inaugural “Dr. Keri Wetherington Legacy Award;” the Daughters of the American Revolution presented him with its 2019 “Community Service Award;” the United Way of Lincoln County named him its 2019 “Community Hero;” and the Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce named him 2018 “Small Businessperson of the Year.” Ross is equally proud to have had a roast beef sandwich bear his name.
He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, with a BS in Criminal Justice and a second major in Psychology. Ross is an Eagle Scout.
Charlie is a Lincoln County native and proud graduate of Appalachian Sate University. Charlie has served on the United Way of Lincoln County Board since 2020. Prior to joining the United Way of Lincoln County Board Charlie served on several United Way agency boards in our community. Charlie is VP, Branch Manager with First Federal Savings Bank of Lincolnton and has over 20 years of experience in the banking industry. Charlie is married to Hayley, and they have two children, Savannah and CJ. When away from work Charlie enjoys time with family and friends; depending on the season he can be found snow skiing, riding motorcycles, or at the lake.
Casey has served on our Events Committee for years, and with her help, our events, such as the Christmas Gala, have always turned out amazing. Beyond being an amazing asset to the UWLC, she also dedicates herself to her family and community! After graduating Clemson, Casey earned her Master of Science in Nursing from George Washington University. She moved from Rock Hill, SC to Lincolnton, and has been here for fifteen years where she now works as the medical provider for the Lincoln County Child Advocacy Center as well as owns and operates Grace Vitality and Wellness Center. She has two young children, both of whom are involved in sports, and loves fitness herself. She can often be found working out at the Rock Fitness Center, and she is an avid football fan and Clemson supporter.
Julie lives in Lincoln County with her husband, 1 year old daughter, newborn son, and four dogs on a wooded farm in Denver. She and her family hope to expand their farm very soon to have chickens, cows and pigs like they had on a previous farm in a different state. After growing up in KY, living in CO, DC, and Huntersville, the Byrnes Family now consider Denver to be their forever home and are so excited to grow some roots here. Julie is a CPA, but works in global tax policy helping people understand current events. Julie loves cooking, crafting, and being outside on her family's property.
Jennifer Green prides herself on being a Christian, honest, fair, consistent, and loyal. She loves her family and her pets! Previously, Jennifer owned her own business, named "Mommy & Me Children's Boutique." She owned and operated the store until her children were old enough to go to school. She was able to enjoy her children and take them with her to work with her at her boutique each day. When her children became school aged and begin attending school regularly, Julie sold the boutique to pursue her career in law enforcement. She served as a Patrol Sergeant for the Lincolnton Police Department, which she loved.
My name is Chrystal Hoyle, I am a mother of two wonderful humans, Brooklyn and Ballard and wife of a great man, Jonathan Hoyle. We live in Lincoln county, where I have lived all my adult life. I have been employed at the same agency (Partnership for Children of Lincoln/Gaston) for over 22 years. Our Agency is a Smart Start, state and federal funding agency. We lead, advocate and collaborate with others to ensure the wellbeing of children 0-5 years old. I am the coordinator of the North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten Programs that serves Lincoln County Schools and private sites. I am an educator, facilitator and work with wonderful teachers throughout our county. Outside of my regular job, I am involved in my church and community. I have the honor of serving our community in a variety of ways. I serve as chair of Lincoln County DSS Board county commissioner appointed, was the past chair of Hesed House of Hope Board (term up in Dec. 2021), and am now serving on the United Way of Lincoln County Board of Directors. I also serve on the adoption committee, which brings me great joy. My passion is to help be a resource to others and make positive change happen in our community for agencies, individuals as well as families.
A Georgia native that moved to North Carolina in 2007, Jennifer and her family moved to Lincolnton in 2018 and instantly fell in love with the community. Jennifer and her husband Brad have been married for 21 years and have three children, Kyndal, Elizabeth, Sawyer. Jennifer has a large passion for children and ensuring every child in Lincoln county has the same opportunities to experience life at its best. When Jennifer is not working or volunteering, she loves spending time with her family and friends.
Lauren began serving on the United Way Board of Directors in 2021 and has remained an active and dedicated board member ever since. She currently serves on the board as the Vice Chair of the United Way of Lincoln County Board of Directors. She has built her career in the field of Gerontology, driven by a deep passion for supporting the aging population. She currently serves as the Piedmont Regional Manager for the SHIIP Division of the North Carolina Department of Insurance. In this role, she supports the department’s mission to serve Medicare beneficiaries across North Carolina.
A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health, Lauren is also Certified Dementia Practitioner and a strong advocate for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease. She volunteers with the Alzheimer’s Association and serves on the boards of the Lincoln County Council of Aging and the Catawba County Council on Aging. Additionally, she is a member of the BOLD NC Team. Lauren is a graduate of Leadership Lincoln Class of 2021 through the Lincolnton- Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce and served as co-chair of the Leadership Lincoln Class of 2022. She is also a certified Mental Health First Aider through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Lauren was honored as the Piedmont Region Coordinator of the Year by the NC SHIIP Division in 2020. As a registered notary in North Carolina, Lauren provides free notary services for seniors.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband, Adrian, and their two dogs Duke and Oakley. She also loves crafting and designing shirts on her Cricut craft machine. Lauren is a member of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Maiden, NC.
Robin graduated from Western Carolina University with a degree in Early Childhood Education. After graduation, she accepted a job as a bank teller where my banking career began. She has been in banking for 40 years and is currently employed by United Bank as a Senior Universal Banker. She have been married to my husband Mark for 39 years. We have twin sons and two precious grandchildren. I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, and singing in my church choir.
Durant Scholz, president and cofounder of Active Concepts, LLC, has a degree in Biochemistry from University of Massachusetts at Amherst. His career began as a Fabergé chemist. Following tenure in Clinique's Skin Care department at Estée Lauder, Durant became Technical Marketing Director at Brooks Industries, managing domestic and international marketing, sales, and product development. In 2000, Durant founded Active Concepts, a multinational company with facilities in Lincolnton, N.C., Milan, Italy, and Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
In his former life, Matt was in food sales but always felt he was falling short of truly being able to help his customers. However, Matt says he became interested in the financial world, “since my father was in the real-estate business this initially sparked my interest in becoming an investor.” Matt realized he wanted to provide that same type of advice and guidance to other families and entered his career in the financial industry in 2020. Matt gets energy from knowing he is able to help the people he cares about and says, “I’ve finally found my true passion for a career”.
Matt grew up in Alexander County where most of his family still resides. He attended Appalachian State University where he met his lovely wife, Jenn. Matt and Jenn live in Newton and have two children.
Tri Tang, DBA, MHA, FACHE is a seasoned healthcare executive with over 20 years of leadership experience spanning various sectors, including healthcare operations, strategic planning, and academics. As the Facility Executive of Atrium Health Lincoln, Tri leads the strategic direction and oversees all medical center operations. His focus is on delivering high-quality care and keeping Lincoln County patients close to home. He also has a passion for fostering a safe and supportive culture for teammates, providers, and patients.
Tri’s journey in healthcare began as a combat medic in the U.S. Army. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the Virginia Military Institute, a Master of Health Care Administration (MHA) from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.Recognized for his contributions to healthcare leadership, Tri has received the American College of Healthcare Executives’ Regent’s Award and was named among the Charlotte Business Journal’s "40 Under 40."
Erica is a family law attorney at The Jonas Law Firm in downtown Lincolnton. She is the current president of the Business Professional Women's Organization of Lincolnton and has been the director of the Miss Lincoln County Apple Queen Pageant for the past ten years. She is married to John Dock Tallent, and they are expecting their first child summer 2025.
Kennan serves as the Director of Student Support Services for Lincoln County Schools. Before serving in this position, she was lead counselor and workforce development coordinator for the district. Kennan graduated with her BA in elementary education and M.Ed in school counseling from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She taught 2nd grade in Chapel Hill before moving back to Lincolnton to serve as a school counselor.
James is the Area General Manager at Pepsi Beverages North America for the Cherryville, NC location. He was born and raised in Greenville, SC. He attended Charleston Southern University, where he was a four-year lettermen on the football team and earned a BS in sociology in 2016. Upon graduating, he accepted a job with Pepsi as a part of their campus development program in Tampa, FL. During his time at Pepsi, he has held various leadership roles within the organization in the south east region of the US. James has been married to his wife Amanda for 7 years. They have one son, Carter, and a newborn. In his spare time James loves to exercise, explore new places, watch college football, and give back to his community.
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